Nav System

[cdreynolds]

I just picked up a '03 QX4 with the standard system and want to know what is involved to upgrade to the factory Nav system? I know, I can save time and $$ by going to bestbuy and buying a ms garmin but all the mess (power cable, mount, the gps itself) just bugs the crap out of me and the fact u can't just leave it out or it's guaranteed to get stolen. To me installing the dash nav system is it. So besides finding the head unit, what else is needed? Antenna? How difficult is it? I have installed aftermarket systems before so I'm not afraid to pull the dash apart.

[Qxxx4]

did u mean you wanted to go with the factory nav system? i dont think thats worth it, very expensive and not as feature packed as an aftermarket nav. The good thing about it is that it had climate controls onscreen.

Pretty much all of us on here with aftermarket nav love it. Pioneer seems to be the way to go, they seem to be leading the pack, at least in popularity. They do require a gps antenna which is easy, i mounted mine near the defrost grille under the dash, you can actually reach down there from the front console area. The only problem is your '03 has an awkward shape around the stereo so prepare to make a trim piece. Im pretty sure your stock deck has that awkward shape as well but there are guys on here with aftermarket nav double din setups with 01-03 q's....so im pretty sure the factory brackets work fine.

OH dont forget to hook up a steering control setup too to make full use of that.

[REZN]

well the navigation system comes with the climate control installed so idk how that would work and umm yeah worst idea.i hate minesits there because i dont have the money to replace it with a pioneer or something

[Pwnin O'Brien]

well the navigation system comes with the climate control installed so idk how that would work and umm yeah worst idea.i hate minesits there because i dont have the money to replace it with a pioneer or something

You have factory nav in your Pathy?

It's a pretty expensive and tedious process to switch over to the factory Nav system. It is nice that it has the HVAC controls integrated tho. You need alllllll kinds of sensors, servos and other miscellaneous parts. I'm also not sure that your car would be pre-wired for it. I think they only pre-wired the cars for the auto HVAC and not the nav system.

[JonathanPrem]

did u mean you wanted to go with the factory nav system? i dont think thats worth it, very expensive and not as feature packed as an aftermarket nav. The good thing about it is that it had climate controls onscreen.

Pretty much all of us on here with aftermarket nav love it. Pioneer seems to be the way to go, they seem to be leading the pack, at least in popularity. They do require a gps antenna which is easy, i mounted mine near the defrost grille under the dash, you can actually reach down there from the front console area. The only problem is your '03 has an awkward shape around the stereo so prepare to make a trim piece. Im pretty sure your stock deck has that awkward shape as well but there are guys on here with aftermarket nav double din setups with 01-03 q's....so im pretty sure the factory brackets work fine.

OH dont forget to hook up a steering control setup too to make full use of that.

Qxx4- I have a aftermarket In dash but my steering wheel button don't work. I really miss those buttons. Btw its alpine iva-w505 and is that a adapter you have to buy or special wiring to make it work

Thanks

[cdreynolds]

Hmmm, doesn't sound as easy (or worth the effort) to go the factory route. I don't like the slide/pop-up screens of most dvd/nav head units I've seen. Just want the screen to fill that BIG hole. Any idea of what aftermarket head unit will work?

[REZN]

yeah the pioneer avic d3 is one of my favesthere alot of doule din headunitsalot of people here on the forum have what youre looking for. and to jonathanprem i also miss my steering wheel controls. i believe that theres an adaptor but the place i went to had no clue what i was talking about.

[Empty V]

My old Pioneer AVIC-D3 and the newer AVIC-Z3.

OLD

NEW

[cdreynolds]

To get your steering wheel controls to work with an aftermarket receiver, go to crutchfield and search under steering wheel control. It will pull up several steering wheel interfaces by PAC that are head-unit specific, ie PAC SWI-JACK is for JVC, Alpine, Clarion and Kenwood receivers, PAC SWI-PS works with Pioneer, Jensen and Sony receivers...they run $75. This is just a quick search, as I am sure you can find different manufacturers/prices.
Modified by cdreynolds at 3:13 PM 11/18/2009

[QX22s]

Man i want one! QXXX4..i have a 99.5 just like yours. Was it pretty easty to install the main head unit? I think a double din nav would look sick replacing the stock bose. They are pricey though...the Q is in great shape but it is hard to invest that kid of money (500$ +??) in things like that on a 10 year old car.